Wire stretcher



y 8, 1951 v A. EDWARDS 2,552,003

WIRE STRETCHER Filed March 9, 1948 IN VEN TOR.

fi/zfizzr Cffdzwards mmwza ATTEI RN EYS Patented May 8, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WIRE STRET'CHER Arthur 0. Edwards, Idaho Falls, Idaho Application March 9, 1948, Serial No. 13,810

2 Claims. 1

Thi invention relates to improvements in wire fence tools, and more particularly to a wire fence structure.

An object of this invention is to provide a tool of this type that can be used on smooth or barbed wire.

Another object of the invention is to provide a tool of this type that is simple in construction, easily operated to perform a most effective job with all types of wire.

With the above and other objects and advantages in view, the invention consists of the novel details of construction, arrangement and combination of parts more fully hereinafter described, claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which:

Figure 1 is an elevational view of an embodiment of the invention as applied to a wire to be stretched;

Figure 2 is a sectional view on the line 22 of Figure 1, and

Figure 3 is a view of the right hand end of Figure 2, with the crank portion broken away.

Referring more in detail to the drawing, the wire stretching tool embodying the invention is generally de ignated by the reference numeral Ill.

The tool I!) comprises a shaft l I, having a crank portion I2 formed intermediate its ends. On the rear end, a handle I3 is fixed to the shaft, while a handle I4 is also fitted on the crank portion l2. The opposite or front end of the shaft II i pivoted as at 15, and slotted as at IE, to permit removal of staples, as desired.

Forward of the crank portion l2, the shaft II has a collar ll formed thereon, and slightly removed inwardly of the forward end, a second collar I3 is movably fixed to the shaft H by a cotter key l9.

Slidably and rotatablymounted on the shaft II, intermediate of the collar I1, and I8, is the wire bracket controller 20. The controller comprises two sleeves 2i and 22 respectively, on which is formed the U-shaped rod-like portion 23, which, at its center, is formed with the offset portion 24.

Extending in the opposite direction from the portion 23, in the same plane and formed on the sleeves, are the inwardly inclined bars 25 and 25. At the joining point of the bars, a concavo-convex guide portion 21 is formed integral therewith, and the outer end of this portion is curved downward as at 28, Figure 2.

Fixed to the bars 25 and 26, rearwardly of the guide portion 21, is a cross bar 29, on the bottom of which is formed the wing portion 30. The por- 7 2 tion 30, at its rear end, below the portion 21, is provided with a rounded nose portion 3|, and just above the nose 3|, in the edge of the portion 21, there is provided the inset 32.

The shaft II is provided with .an opening 33, which will, when the tool is in use, lie in the same horizontal plane with the portion 24 and 21, with the latter portions extending in opposite directions to each other on opposite sides of the opening 33.

In use, wire 34 i provided with a loop 35. The loop is slipped over the portion 2'! so that the loop will engage in the inset 32 and the wire is trained over the portion 24 in the portion 23 of the bracket 20. Wire 36 is then lead over the portion 21, and the free end thereof i inserted into the opening 33 in the shaft H. The end is bent around the shaft to hold it in place, and each succeeding turn of the wire 36 on the shaft, should overlie the loose end, to prevent it from slipping out of the opening 33.

During rotation of the shaft II, the portion 24 will elevate the wire 34 so that it will not interfere with wire 36, and will also keep the wire 34 free of contact with the shaft l I, as it is being rotated. The portion 21 being curved at 28, permits barb wire to pass over the portion 21 without catching on its outer edge.

When the wires have been sufficiently stretched, the bracket is turned downwardly from the position shown in Figure 2, and then upwardly into engagement with the wire 36, and twisted to form a permanent loop in wire 36, which, engaging the loop 35 in the wire 34, securely connects the two wires together.

The removable collar 18 permits the tool to be operated by a right or left handed person, and it can be used by either a right or left handed person from either direction, depending upon the most convenient manner of use.

It is believed that from the foregoing description, the manner of construction and operation of the device will be apparent to those skilled in the art, and it is to be understood that changes in the minor details of construction, arrangement and combination of parts may be resorted to, provided such changes fall within the spirit of this invention, and the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Let ters Patent is:

1. A device of the character described, comprising a shaft having a handle at one end and a crank portion inwardly of the handle portion for the rotating of the shaft, a fixed collar on said shaft forwardly of said crank portion, a removable collar on said shaft inwardly of the forward end of the shaft, a wire controlling bracket comprising a pair of sleeves having a U-shaped rod-like portion fixed thereto and a pair of inclined bars fixed theretoand extending therefrom in the same plane as said rod-like portions, and said bracket by the means of said sleeves is rotatably mounted on the shaft intermediate of the collars, a concavo-convex guide portion formed integral with said bars at their outer end, a cross bar secured to said bars inwardly of said guide portion, a wing portion fixed to said cross bar and extending forwardly to lie 1 in the same plane as the guide portion, said wing portion provided with an inset below the guide portion, and the inset is adapted for receiving the loop of a fixed wire, an opening in the shaft to receive a feeder wire, whereby rotation of said bracket in regard to said shaft will permit said feeder wire to be inverted into engagement with REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,008,788 Cornett Nov. 14, 1911 1,318,078 Hettinger Oct. 7, 1919 1,503,418 Hayes July 29, 1924 1,802,871 Buchholz Apr. 28, 1931 2,020,175

Durr 1 Nov. 5, 1935 

